Panel To Fight Mclaren Circle Drug Trade

KISSIMMEE — City commissioners have appointed a 12-member task force that includes seven blacks to explore ways to curtail drug trade on McLaren Circle.

The panel, composed of residents, members of the city police and crime prevention organizations and two clergymen, will meet at 7 p.m. today to explore ways to eliminate drugs on the northeast city street.

Residents say the task force is an important first step to opening talks that could lead to a safer neighborhood and better drug enforcement. At tonight's session the task force will set goals, objectives and a time frame for completion of its job.

Police say the predominantly black McLaren Circle area is one of the county's central spots for drug trade, which in turn causes other serious crimes.

''Residents don't feel safe; they don't feel happy,'' said Ann Davant, apartment manager of Kissimmee Court, one of two apartment complexes on the cul-de-sac. ''Elderly people are disgusted.''

Davant and Willie Jones, manager of Orangewood Apartments, both have been appointed to the task force. Jones also said the task force will serve as a sounding board for residents to bring forth suggestions on how to improve the neighborhood.

''Some tenants have some things in mind, like lighting,'' Jones said. He said an increase in police patrols in the area already has slowed down drug trafficking in the past few weeks.

The city commission's attention was turned to McLaren Circle two weeks ago after about 50 black residents responded to a comment Mayor George Gant made a month earlier in a commission meeting. Gant jokingly suggested that money the city is budgeting for a drug prevention program could be better spent purchasing McLaren Circle, then burning it down.

Since then, residents have turned out for other commission meetings, discussed the problem with police and staff, and met earlier this week to appoint members from the neighborhood to sit on the task force.

Other members include Willie May McGee and Dorothy Gerner, both residents of Orangewood Apartments; Leona Scott, resident of Kissimmee Court; Albert Knox, a resident of the neighboring area; Dorothy Stamper-Buse, member of the crime commission; Glenn Bright, member of the Osceola County Crime Prevention Association; and clergy members the Rev. Jules Hellinger and the Rev. Willie Halley. Frank Brown was chosen as an alternate for Orangewood Apartments.

City Manager Richard Simmons and Police Chief Frank Ross also will sit in as non-voting members, and other city commissioners are expected to attend the meetings.